Improved table



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Letters Patent No. 106,318, lated August 16, 1870.

IMPROVED TABLE.

i The Schedule referred to :iti these Letters Patentand making part of the same .Hiv-

To all whom it may conca-rn Be it known that l, ERNST BRCKER, of Old Tappan, in the county of Bergen and State of 'New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inlables; and I do hereby declare the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to tables adapted for domestic and 4other purposes, and allows of their heilig changed in size, or extended and contracted to a modcrate extent,` sufficient' to fulfill the cond-itionsfrequired in this respect in most ordinary families. It is well'supported, and stiifat every point when in use, and is capable of heilig folded in a very small, compass for storage or transportation.

These qualities have been before attained in some degreegbut my invention overcomes the difficulties, and makes apractlcable and successful construction.

I will first describe what I consider the best means' of carrying out the invention, and will afterward designate the points which I believe to be new.

'lhe accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification.

Figure 1 isa plan view of the table. in -its closelyfolded or compactedcondition.

Figure 2 isa cross-section of tb'e same.

Figure 3 is a cross-section of a t-able on a smaller scale, in its fullest expanded or extended condition.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the same. A

Figure 5 is a side view ofthe table in an intermediate condition. Here thetable is in a condition for use, but adapted to serve as a small table. e

'lhe dotted circle shown in fig. 4 gives the outline of the plan view of the condition shown'in fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures A is a semicircular board, of black walnut or other suitable material, and B is a corresponding board,

Vmounted in the opposite position, so that,- when the two are applied together by their straight edges, they will form a circular table.

M M M is a deep frame, firmly xed on the under face of the partition A, and extending out beyond the edge thereof.

N N N is an analogous but larger frame, correspondingly fixed on the under-surface of the part B. lhe frame N is suiiciently large to receive the framing M within it. i

The frames N and M and their equivalents are adapted to slide together, and to slide apart, by dovetailed grooves audprojections. There are two paral lel dovetailed grooves, n n, on the interior surfaces of the two sides of the frame N. These receive projections, nz, which extend out from the outer surfaces of the parallel sides of the frame M.

A stout, but thinihook, N2, also extends outfrom the parts of the frame N, and reaching across the undcr'edge of the adjacent portion of the frame M, turns. up, and thereby strongly takes hold and compels the frames to be guided by each other as they are moved apart or together. .Y A 4The effect of moving the frames apart is to separate the boards A and 1? by a considerable space, which is afterward to be filled with one or more boards, C, which may be secured in position by dowels, or other suitable means.

.'G and H are folding frames, which serve vas legs, but which are adapted to fold very compact-l y within the frames M and N when the structure is to be packed. They may be formed by matching together properlycut wood, or other suitable strong material, so that each frame supports the table upon two widely-spread feet. They are hinged by pivots, q h, on projections, M1 Ni, within the corresponding frames H and N.

The frame G is taller than tbc 'frame H, and the pivot-s g are higher than the.pivots 7i.. When the frames are folded together the frame G liesup in contactwith the under surfaces of the boards A B, and the frame H lies against the under surface -of theframe G. \Vhen the frames G and H are extended, `to serve as legs, theyl are rigidly confined in that position by means of stout hand-screws.

When the table is fully extended, it is important to provide an additional support for the center. I do this by mea-ns of a separaten-ame, I, which may have the same general form as the frames G and H, but is adapted'tov be entirely disconnected from the table when desired.

It is provided with narrow dovetailed tenons, I 1', which match into corresponding mortises in the en,- larged ends M? of the frame M;

The frame I is introduced from above when the table vis extended, and, oi course, before the board C is applied.

Vhen it has been irmly pressed down into its place, it is firmly secured at each side by'a pin, J, which extends through a corresponding .hole in the parts, as represented.

The arrangement of vthefiames Gr and 1[ allows them to lie flat upon each other'when the table isfolded, and provides a suiiicient space within tbe depth ofthe flaming M N to receiye, also, the frame I. One or more boards, (l, may then be applied below the whole, and the structure occupies but a smallv space, while it is ready for convenient Vand rapid ex' tension for use when required'.v I

Theconnection of the central frame 1 affords a bearing the whole depth of the mortise, to resist a strain applied in the direction lengthwise of the table. The connection of my frames G and H aii'ordsa more than -usual stiiiness in this direction', as well as in every other, when the table is adjusted for use.v The whole depth of the frame M is available -in this position as a bearing, to stiffen the frame Gr, and twot-hirds of the dept-h of the frame is also available as a bearing to stiffen thc frame H. i

I have represented the work as entireiy of wood, with the exception of a few portions which seem to require great strength within a small space. The hookl N2 is represen-ted of thin metal,..which may, in practice, be malleable cast-iron, and the part which carries the pivots g h may be made of the same material. I have represented the pivots g IL as formed on a broad, thin casting or plate, which is fixed in a space provided in the center of the upper ends ofthe frames G and H, and `firmly secured hy screws.

I propose, in practice, to make a cast-iron shoe,

which shall inclose the entire upper portions of the tran'ies G and H, and to firmly bed in the wood cast-- iron nuts, to receive the screws K, to make the thin' mortises ou the central frame I also of malleable castlron, and to make the pins J J ot the same or other l suitable metal. Many modilicaticns of this kind may be made by any good mechanic, as will be obvious, wit-hout departing from the novel features of my invention. v

I can, hy making the frames- -M and N of hard wood, or other suitable strong lmiteriah-and making them a little thinner than here represented, allow for one or more thicknesses of intermedia-te slidingr trames, so as to increase the extent to which my table may he changed in its dimensions.v lhe connect-ions vof the slides may, in such cases, he made on any of the approved plans, in making the corresponding parts of ordinary extension tables. The extra leg I may he kept in position for use in all the partially-extended conditions of the table, as also in the perfectly-closed condition. It is not, in such position, necessary to aid in supporting the table, hut it tends to serve, to

some extent, useful functions, and insures its being always at hand when the table is extended.

Some of the features of my invention may be used with advantage without the others. rl'hus, for exaluple, I can use the folding legs G and'H, arranged and mounted as herein represented, without the extra leg I.l

l do not confine. myself to the combination of ail the features,gor to the precise form here represented of the several details; but

Having now fully described .my invention, together with what I esteem the best mode of carrying it out in practice,

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Let' -ining means K, intermediate frame '1, and confining means J, all arranged for joint operation, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNST BRCKER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. STETsoN,

HOERMANN. 

